Video: FSC's Alison Boden Testifies Before California Assembly Committee Regarding Age Verification

Video: FSC's Alison Boden Testifies Before California Assembly Committee Regarding Age Verification

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Alison Boden testified before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, in opposition to the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

As XBIZ reported, AB 3080 was introduced by Assemblymember Juan Alanis, a former police officer from Modesto, and would require all adult websites to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that only adults are viewing them.

Although Boden has been campaigning nationwide against these bills, the California measure is also of personal concern to her as a resident of District 12.

Boden stated that although she appreciated Assemblymember Alanis’ stated “commitment to protecting young people and willingness to engage in productive conversations about the bill,” at this time FSC “remains in opposition to this bill because — in addition to the very solid arguments that it will not survive judicial review — it’s completely impractical for Californians to verify their age multiple times on individual websites rather than doing it once on their device.”

Boden also noted that in the 16 months that the current slew of age verification bills have been in effect in other states, a lot has been learned about how they work in practice.

“One very important thing we’ve learned,” she told the committee, “is that the methods available to verify one’s age online are so cumbersome and invasive that consumers refuse to undergo the process. For example, verifying using government ID is so complicated that it took one reporter 52 steps to complete. Facial age estimation requires giving the entity conducting the verification access to your computer’s webcam or phone’s camera, which might be why fewer than 1% of users actually complete the process.”

Data shows that what users do instead, she added, is “hit the back button and find a site that doesn’t comply with the law. So while traffic to legitimate sites that implemented age verification has dropped substantially, we’ve looked at where it’s going instead. We need to protect children online, not send adults to dangerous websites with illegal content.”

The only solution to this issue that satisfies free speech rights and protects users, Boden concluded, is at the device level.

Noted independent producers like Jiz Lee, Dusty and FiveStar also attended the hearing to express opposition to the bill. Greg Gonzalez from national free speech organization FIRE also testified before the committee.

AB 3080 is backed by Exodus Cry, the California Catholic Conference, California Family Council, Concerned Women for America, Family Policy Alliance, the Pacific Justice Institute Center for Public Policy and other conservative groups, both religious and secular.

Activists from anti-porn ministry Exodus Cry, which originated in Missouri but has long been based in California, spoke in support of Alanis’ bill, as did Joseph Kohm — a conservative pro-censorship activist from the Family Policy Alliance — and Iain Corby, a British representative from the Age Verification Providers Association.

At the end of the meeting, the Judiciary Committee voted to move AB 3080 forward.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

ASACP Highlights Study on Parental Controls

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is highlighting the results of a study on the underutilization of parental controls.

Sydney Screams Launches New Site Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Sydney Screams has launched her new membership site, SydneyScreams.xxx, through Grooby's website management company Blue.xxx.

Mistress Mystii Is LoyalFans' 'Featured Creator' for June

LoyalFans has named Mistress Mystii as its Featured Creator for June.

Canadian Senator Revives Push for National AV Law

Sen. Julie Miville-Dechêne, whose previous multiple attempts to legislate national age verification requirements all failed, has introduced a new bill that would impose fines of up to $500,000 on adult sites that do not implement age verification for Canadian viewers.

Show More